HMS Shoreham at Fleet Review

The Sandown class minehunter was the west-end marker for the fleet of more than 170 vessels from all over the world which had been assembled in the Solent for a review by the Queen.

The Queen sailed past the Shoreham at 1.45pm on HMS Endurance, before turning round and returning to Portsmouth.

Among the guests aboard HMS Shoreham were friends and family of the crew, Adur District Council chairman Angie Mills, her husband Keith, and Ian Wright, from the Sussex Association of Naval Officers, from Southwick, and his wife Ann.

Mrs Mills commented: "It has been a privilege to come along and see it today. It's a once-in-a-lifetime occasion and we have been fortunate to be part of it. We have had a wonderful time."

Mr Wright said: "It's a wonderful spectacle. It's very moving to see all these ships."

HMS Shoreham's commanding officer, Lieutenant Commander Iain Lower, also had his wife Pippa and father Barrie on board for the occasion.

Lt Cdr Lower said this was the first time his father, who was in the Navy for 37 years, had been on board a vessel he had commanded. He told the Herald: "We have been working hard on the operational side of things in the last two weeks, as opposed to the ceremonial side of things.

"We have been searching the whole of the Solent, making sure every inch of it has been covered.

"I think it's a tremendous honour to be serving in command and to be in command here is an incredible feeling."

Lt Cdr Lower said they would be visiting Shoreham on July 28 and staying until August 1. The ship is also going to be the guard ship for the BT Challenge yacht race.

He added that he was hoping to have the ship recommissioned in Shoreham next year.

The first ever fleet review was held in 1346 by Edward III, before sailing to war with France.

Since then, there have been 41 fleet reviews and the previous one was in June, 1977, to celebrate the Queen's Silver Jubilee.

The 2005 International Fleet Review was held to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar and also included a fleet of tall ships.

The largest ship in the review was the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, which has a total load displacement of 42,000 tonnes and is the flagship of the French Navy.

Thousands of people watched the spectacle from the shore and also saw a display by the Red Arrows team, who are coming to the Shoreham Air Show in September.

The day finished with a huge fireworks display and a re-creation of the Battle of Trafalgar.